Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Jewel Bako is permanently closing



Jewel Bako, the celebrated sushi restaurant on Fifth Street, will not be reopening after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides.

Multiple neighbors and Jewel Bako fans have pointed out the sign on the restaurant's front window between Second Avenue and Cooper Square that notes an open house sale.

Up for grabs: Kitchen accessories and appliances — as well as some bottles of wine...



An employee at the restaurant confirmed the closure, but didn't have any other information.

New York magazine called Jewel Bako, which has maintained a Michelin star for the last 15 years, "one of the most enjoyable places to enjoy sushi in the city."

Jack and Grace Lamb also operate the well-regarded Restaurant Ukiyo next door on Fifth Street. No word on the status of Ukiyo, which opened in the spring of 2018.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Truly a gem that will be missed. This was an amazing restaurant right from the start.

Anonymous said...

Oh wow

Gary said...

Very few people in the East Village ever ventured into or could afford this Palace for the affluent. Why are we, the left-out, weeping it's demise?

Anonymous said...

I need some good news fast.

Anonymous said...

This sucks because Jack & Grace are really great east village stalwarts and restaurant people,even though I couldn't afford to eat there much and only did sporadically when they first opened 15 years(!) years ago, knowing it was there our own little fancy pants sushi place there was no pretense it was about the food & the experience Jack was always and i mean always the perfect host, when they first arrived they were all about uplifting the nabe they took over the penny house for a while and had that great coffee spot on second ave as well hope they stay active in the nabe and their employees at Jewel Bako are taken care of

Anonymous said...

@12:05pm: I don't know exactly who's "weeping" at the demise of this place, though I'm sure some are.

I never went there b/c sushi isn't my thing.

But this blog has posted NEWS of its closing, and exactly ONE person commenting so far has said they'll miss it, so I don't get where you're coming from in your comment.

Anonymous said...

Every and each time I was taken for a dinner there, I was invited by an East Village resident.
And Degustation next door, was the most affordable luxurious dining experience this city ever known.

Christopher Pelham said...

The time I went I thought it was amazing.

M Anderson said...

What a sad day.... when the passion that Grace and Jack Lamb put into Jewel Bako is lost to NYC. I am so sorry to hear this news.

Anonymous said...

I have had many wonderful meals here. I will miss Isoda san's jokes. 15 East which the original chef of Jewel Bako help started has also closed.